Before we left for Honduras (stay tuned), I talked about the Love Does Project for the Ground Zero Youth Group. My assignment to the youth before leaving for Honduras was for each of the youth to “get started” on their dreams. Last night after worship, we had a check-point. To my delight, forward motion was made on most of the dreams. We also had a couple of youth that did not get to participate in the first meeting of the Love Does Project, so their assignment for this week is to spend some intimate time with the Father this week and ask Him to give them their own Love Does dream. One that is bigger than anything they can do on their own. A dream that requires us to step out in faith and God to show up in ways we can’t imagine or perceive.

Before I elaborate on that last point, I want to provide a brief update on the individual Love Does Dreams:

Christian Marathons to raise money for Charities: Red Cross chosen as a charity, researched the requirements for sponsors, emergency medical, and security personnel. Next steps: Contact Red Cross to work together on planning.

Juvenile Detention Center Ministry: Have correction office contact and will be work with them to understand the requirements and limitations of teens visiting teens in JDC.

Nursing Home Ministry: Select local nursing home and understand how youth can build relationships with the elderly in their care.

Military Ministry: Have Navy recruiter contact and will be working with him to understand how GZ can “adopt” several deployed military personnel to support via correspondence, prayer, care packages, etc.

Simms Park GZ worship: Working with the city council to secure permit and establish guidelines for meetings. Setting a date for later this month to kick-off first event.

Orphanage Ministry: Selected a children’s home in Tampa. Will be contacting this week to see how we can build “big brother/sister” relationship.

Christian Rock Concerts for Charity: “Bullying Awareness” selected as the charity/cause. Next step is to write form letter to solicit local and national artists to participate and send to as many as possible.

One of the “new” dreams that one of our youth talked about was to create a local art gallery for young artists. This is in early “dream” stages. More to follow on a later update.

Back to our regularly scheduled blog…

These are all bigger than each of the dreamers. Truth be told, each of these dreams is bigger than our group combined. Is that stopping the dreamers from moving forward? No! This small group of dreamers is stepping out on faith and believing that God is going to do all the heavy lifting. We need only to step out and DO… step out and GO! If we are acting on faith, we are pleasing God. Hebrews 11:1-2 says this:

[11:1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. [2] For by it the people of old received their commendation.

And Hebrews 11:6 says this:

[6] And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Chapter 11 of Hebrews (often referred to as the “Hall of Faith”) is filled with examples of those who stepped out in faith, believing beyond themselves in a God that is able to produce results that are beyond their own capabilities and even their understanding. A God that shows up in ways unimaginable that bring glory to Himself. This is the very same faith I see in the eyes of the GZ youth. Ready, not to accomplish things on their own, but to allow God to accomplish things bigger than themselves by doing love, in faith, knowing that God will accomplish His glorious purpose through their “mustard seed” contribution.

I eagerly await the next post in this series! I can’t wait to share what God is doing to help us fulfill the great commission right here in our own neighborhood!

Next step: infecting the rest of the church with the “GO” vision the youth have caught.

Do you have a big dream God is calling you to allow Him to complete? Share your Love Does Project with us so we can pray for and encourage you in your faith walk!

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About Todd Bowman

I am a child of God, a husband to Mindy, a father of seven beautiful children of God, a student of the grace of God in Christ, a worshiper, a teacher, a musician and singer, a writer, a nerd, a geek, and a general advocate of mercy and service.